Market research

In-shell cashew nuts market in Kenya

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for in-shell cashew nuts in Kenya declined from 13 842 t in 2018 to 8 414 t in 2022, a trend linked to the long-term sector downturn following the collapse of the state-owned Kenya Cashew Nut Limited factory in the 1990s. The market stabilized in 2020 at 12 726 t after the introduction of the Crops (Nuts and Oil Crops) Regulations, which set licensing rules and defined raw cashew nuts, providing clearer market access and export eligibility.

Production began to recover in 2023, with market volume rising to 9 107 t. This increase coincided with parliamentary review of the Coconut and Cashew Nut Bill 2023, proposing a dedicated board to regulate the sector. In 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the Cashew Revival Plan aiming to add KES 30 bn to GDP and rehabilitate processing facilities, while new entrant Nuts and More EPZ Kenya started operations with a 7 200 t per year capacity, though reliant on imports due to limited domestic supply.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Kenya
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Kenya by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production in-shell cashew nuts in Kenya

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Kenya ranked 19th globally in the production of in-shell cashew nuts.

Top producers of in-shell cashew nuts, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of in-shell cashew nuts, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Kenya's production of in-shell cashew nuts declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 12 668 tonnes, marking a 1.0% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 33.6%, with an average annual decline of 12.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(27.3%)	(7.6%)	(1.0%)	(12.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in-shell cashew nuts from Kenya

Exports in kind, t

Exports of in-shell cashew nuts from Kenya increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports reached 68.1 tonnes, representing a significant rise of 116.2% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports surged by 18 765.1%, translating to an annualized growth rate of 473.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2 687.0%	213.1%	116.2%	473.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Egypt, South Africa, and Germany were the primary markets for Kenya's in-shell cashew nut exports, accounting for 49.7%, 28.7%, and 16.1% of export volumes, respectively. Together, these three countries made up 94.5% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Kenya in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Kenya's export value of in-shell cashew nuts rose for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 463.1 thousand US dollars, reflecting a sharp increase of 66.0% over the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, export value grew by 27 951.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 554.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	5 741.7%	189.3%	66.0%	554.6%

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, Egypt, South Africa, and Germany consistently led as the top destinations for Kenya's in-shell cashew nut exports by value. Egypt accounted for 55.4% of export value, South Africa for 20.4%, and Germany for 17.5%, collectively representing 93.4% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Kenya in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in-shell cashew nuts to Kenya

Imports in kind, t

The import market for in-shell cashew nuts in Kenya showed volatility from 2017 to 2020. Volumes reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a 3.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, imports stood at 126.4 tonnes, indicating a dramatic increase of 232.8% compared to 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	232.8%	44.4%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Mozambique and Tanzania dominated Kenya's imports of in-shell cashew nuts by volume, together accounting for 100.0% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Kenya in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Import values for in-shell cashew nuts in Kenya displayed an unstable trend from 2017 to 2020. Values were at their minimum in 2017 and reached their maximum in 2019, showing a 7-fold increase over this period. In 2020, imports totaled 127.0 thousand US dollars, reflecting a steep decline of 46.4% from 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	(46.4%)	55.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Tanzania and Mozambique were the clear leaders in supplying in-shell cashew nuts to Kenya by value, jointly accounting for 99.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Kenya in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io